The mystery of God's plan of salvation and its culmination in the resurrection of his Son, Jesus Christ, from the dead is so central to our Christian faith that our churches allow for a period of time of preparation before Easter Sunday. Beginning on Ash Wednesday, which this year fell on February 6, we begin a time of reflexion and sacrifice, hoping that through the journey we come to penetrate the mystery of God's saving love in a more profound way than we did in previous years, with the hope that if God gives us life we may delve even deeper in forthcoming years.
This time of prayer, fasting and almsgiving is called the 40 days of Lent. Catholics in the Virgin Islands were invited to maximize the potential of this season by participating in Lenten Missions, penance services, Stations of the Cross and the Bishop's Appeal 2008.
The high point of the season is the Triduum, a Latin word that means "three days," which consists of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil. The three services comprise one continuous Mass. On Holy Thursday, Mass is held only in the evening, recalling the Last Supper Jesus shared with his disciples before his arrest. On Friday, Mass is not celebrated, but the faithful gather for the Passion of our Lord. On Saturday the community waits in Vigil until after dark. This then becomes the third day, on which Jesus resurrects.
Fr. Pablo Straub, CSsR, known by Virgin Islanders for his many appearances on EWTN, preached at the regular Sunday Masses at Holy Cross Church on St. Croix on February 23-24. He then led the Lenten Mission on February 25-29, preaching in Spanish after the weekday morning Masses and in English on weekday evenings.
Each day featured a new topic: Eternity and Salvation; God's Love versus Sin; the Church; the Purity of Jesus and Mary; Judgment; the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Fr. Kenneth Gaddy, CSsR, Director of Formation at the Blessed Peter Donders Residence, led the Lenten Mission at St. Patrick Church on St. Croix on March 3-5. His topics over the three sessions were the Lord's Healing, Forgiveness and Love.
Fr. Charles Crespo, Parochial Vicar of Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral on St. Thomas, and the Legion of Mary, Presidium Maria, Arca de la Alianza, led a Lenten Mission in the homes of Spanish-speaking families living near the parish. The team taught the residents how to pray the rosary and welcomed them into the parish community of faith.
THE CATHOLIC ISLANDER * April 2008* Page 9